Canton, the county seat of Cherokee County, was founded in 1833. It was originally named Etowah, for the Etowah River that flows nearby, but was officially incorporated as Canton in 1834. The name Canton was derived from the city's failed attempt to emulate Canton, China's prosperous silk-producing industry. Later, the town found success in mining both marble and gold. Eventually textile production and cotton crops became the region's major industry. Today, newcomers will find an array of housing styles throughout the city including Victorian, traditional, and ranch.